Biography

Seven years in planning and economic development for East Sussex County and Sheffield City Councils

Lecturer in Economic Development and Planning at Coventry University

Member of the West Midlands Governance Research Group

Member of the Regional Intelligence Network

Member of the Regional Studies Association

Co-founder of the West Midlands branch of the Institution of Economic Development

Research

Recent Research and Consultancy Projects

New State Spaces: Local Enterprise Partnerships – ASSC (Advanced Social Science Collaborative, UOB) Study of LEPs in the West Midlands (2012-2013) .

Regional Integrated Strategies in four EU countries – a study of policy integration and governance with partners in Denmark, Sweden, and Netherlands: (2011-2012) funded by European Commission, ESPON programme

Local Enterprise Partnerships (2011-2012) – with INLOGOV, University of Birmingham

Local Enterprise Partnerships – exploratory study with Professor John Shutt, Newcastle University and Dr Lee Pugalis, Northumbria University (PI)

Evaluation of the Accelerate Support Programme for Automotive Industry Supply Chain firms – for Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry and AWM (2007-2009)

The Economic and Social Impact of the Demise of Rover at Longbridge: A Longitudinal and Holistic Approach to Economic Restructuring funded by the ESRC on (2007-2009)

The Social Impact of the Closure of the Rover plant at Longbridge and the Efficiency of the Policy Response. (2008) For Birmingham City Council and Advantage West Midlands:

Bentley G. Bailey D and DeRuyter, A (forthcoming) Picking up the Pieces? Plant Closures, Redundancies and Policy Responses: A Review of Lessons learned in the MG Rover Case, Policy Studies

Pugalis L, Shutt J and Bentley G. (2012) Local Enterprise Partnerships: Living up to the hype? Critical Issues 4. Northhampton: Institute of Economic Development

Bentley G, (2012) Local economic development and local enterprise partnerships in Raine J and Staite C eds The World Can Be Your Oyster. Reflections on the Localism Act of 2011 Birmingham: INLOGOV University of Birmingham

Shutt J, Pugalis L and Bentley G. (2012) LEPs - living up to the hype? The changing framework for regional economic development and localism in the UK. In: Ward M and Hardy S (eds) Changing Gear - Is Localism the New Regionalism. London: The Smith Institute and Regional Studies Association.

Bentley G, (2011) Local economic development and local enterprise partnerships in Raine J and Staite C eds The World Will Be Your Oyster? Perspectives from INLOGOV on the Localism Bill Birmingham: INLOGOV University of Birmingham

Bentley G and Chapain C (2011) Support for Workers and Communities in Bailey D and Chapain C (eds) The Recession and Beyond: Local and Regional Responses to the Downturn Regions and Cities Series Regional Studies Association. London: Routledge

Bentley G, Bailey, D and Shutt, J (2010) From RDAs to LEPs: A New Localism? Case Examples of West Midlands and Yorkshire Local Economy, Vol 25, 7, 535-557

Bentley G, Bailey D and De Ruyter A (2010) The MG Rover Closure and Policy Response: An evaluation of the Task Force Model in the UK International Journal of Automotive Technology and Manufacturing, 10, 2/3, 236-251.

Bentley G., MacNeill S. and Chapain C. A. (2009) Evaluation of the Accelerate Programme. Final Report. Centre for Urban and Regional Studies, Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham.

Bentley G., Laughlin P. and East J. (2009) Evaluation of Digital Challenge Innovative Projects Centre for Urban and Regional Studies, Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham.

Bentley G., Laughlin P. and East J. (2009) Evaluation of Digital Challenge Innovative Projects Centre for Urban and Regional Studies, Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham.

Laughlin P. Bentley G. and East J. (2009) Enterprising Communities Action Plan. Evaluation of the Enterprise Catalyst Project, P2P and Centre for Urban and Regional Studies, The University of Birmingham

Laughlin P. Bentley G., and East J. (2009) Enterprising Communities Action Plan. Evaluation of the Integrated Employment Gateway Project P2P and Centre for Urban and Regional Studies, The University of Birmingham

Laughlin P. Bentley G., and East J. (2009) Enterprising Communities Action Plan. Evaluation of the Empowering Local Businesses Project. P2P and Centre for Urban and Regional Studies, The University of Birmingham

Laughlin P. Bentley G., and East J. (2009) Enterprising Communities Action Plan. Evaluation of the Town Centre Management Project. P2P and Centre for Urban and Regional Studies, The University of Birmingham

Bentley G. (2007) Evaluation and Review of the Objective 2 funded Training Opportunities Programmes for the Medtech and ICT clusters Centre for Urban and Regional Studies University of Birmingham

Recent Conference Papers/Presentations

Bentley G, Shutt, J and Pugalis, L (2013) LEPs: entrepreneurial governance;Soft state spaces and Innovative practices. RSA and Smith Institute Conference. The State of the Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) in England. Newcastle. March.